By Sue Piper • I enjoy crossing the Rainier Bridge. Its design and river view is appealing, visually. But I also see it as a symbolic “connector” in my own life and between all our communities. Most people who’ve lived around here for any length of time have their own Rainier Bridge memories.

By Mike Clark • In 1925 Congress passed an act authorizing the bridge, providing that both states agreed. Washington said “Yes,” but Oregon, now cooling to the idea and maybe feeling it made a mistake, elected to turn the decision over to the Port of Portland whose quick answer was “NO!” They didn’t want anything that could possibly obstruct shipping to its ports. Of course, Longview wasn’t about to give up and set forth promoting it.

Story by Michael Perry, with assistance from Mike Clark • In the early 1900s, the only way to move automobiles across the major rivers was by ferry. History tells us there were many such ferries in the 1800s that transported horse-drawn wagons and, later, automobiles. One of the most amazing ferries carried an entire train from Goble, Oregon, across the Columbia to Kalama, Washington; the train ferry operated from 1883 until 1908, when a railroad bridge was built across the Columbia from Portland to Vancouver.

Story by Michael Perry, with assistance from Mike Clark ..... In the early 1900s, the only way to move automobiles across the major rivers was by ferry. History tells us there were many such ferries in the 1800s that transported horse-drawn wagons and, later, automobiles. One of the most amazing ferries carried an entire train from Goble, Oregon, across the Columbia to Kalama, Washington; the train ferry operated from 1883 until 1908, when a railroad bridge was built across the Columbia from Portland to Vancouver.